Elder care continues to be one of the most complicated needs in society. Literally in Colorado there are thousands of agencies providing home care, assisted living, and other services. Families are often overwhelmed about where to start, and what questions to ask.
The Colorado Gerontological Society has released the 24th edition of the Colorado Senior Resource Guidebook, a comprehensive resource of services providing answers for families and friends facing challenges in providing care for loved ones, along with forms to compare services, questions to ask, and other decision making tools.
Telling a loved one they must move is one of the most difficult conversations that families have. Leaving someone in their own home is always the goal.
Trying to decide on a home care resource can be challenge. There are three types of home care resources featured in the Guidebook. Home care includes Medicare and Medicaid covered services, private pay services, and home care placement agencies in which the elder contracts directly with home care service accepting responsibility for supervising care.
Another home care option is utilizing adult day services in which the elder attends a program that provides oversight, medication management and serves meals.
When home care is no longer an option, many families face the challenge of moving their loved one to a retirement community, assisted living, or nursing home depending on the level of care needed. In Colorado there are hundreds of agencies available. Selecting the right level of care, the right price and location is important for a successful placement.
The Guidebook provides updated prices of all of the licensed facilities in the state and information about star ratings if the agency is certified by Medicare. Not all agencies providing elder resources are licensed or certified.
Some families may choose Hospice or Palliative care services. These services focus on providing the elder with the best quality of life, but not necessarily all of the care options that might be available for managing and curing the complex medical problems.
Understanding both insurance options that may help to pay for these services, and how to select Medicare products with current pricing, companies offering services and comparison charts to help you select the best coverage are also featured.
Families oftentimes find themselves in need of the necessary documents to act on behalf of loved ones, such as financial and medical powers of attorney, do not resuscitate orders, and living wills. The Guidebook contains copies of pre-printed forms to be used for planning and making these decisions.
The Guidebook is free through local libraries throughout Colorado, or at 1330 Leyden, #148, Denver. Copies can be ordered for $10 shipping and handling charges at senioranswers.org or by calling 303-333-3482.
For questions or to order a Guidebook, call 303-333-3482.
~ Eileen Doherty, MS is the Executive Director of the Colorado Gerontological Society since 1982. She can be reached at doherty001@att.net.